Starting in April 2018, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services will be issuing new Medicare ID cards to Medicare beneficiaries. As stated on their website, www.cms.gov, the new cards issued will not have the beneficiary’s social security number on them anymore to “prevent fraud, fight identity theft, and keep taxpayer dollars safe.”

Instead, the new cards will have 11 randomly generated numbers and uppercase letters. This new ID is called a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier.

Due to these changes, there is a rise in scams, because scammers know it is easy to scare seniors into giving up their information.

The government has warned people to keep an eye out for scams when they are choosing between plans. Regional director of AARP Foundation, Amy Nofziger stated that “criminals will always use current events to confuse and victimize unsuspecting consumers, and this applies to the Medicare open enrollment period.”

Scammers will pretend to be the IRS to get your information.

These criminals will pretend to be a Medicare representative. They will ask you to verify your social security, birth date, Medicare number, and address, in order to receive a new card. They will then use your social security number to open credit cards, apply for loans, or file fake tax returns.

It is important to know that there is no cost for a new card. Medicare will never ask you for personal information to receive one. You will not have to do anything to get a new card.To protect yourself, it is crucial to be aware of the tactics these scammers are using.

Phone Calls

Because social security numbers are being removed from cards, scammers will be calling even more than usual.

A legitimate agency would not call anyone to ask for their social security number in order to issue a new Medicare card. There are no “official Medicare agents,” because Medicare does not have any sales reps.

Medicare will usually mail you unless you call or email them. Nofziger added that Medicare will never call and ask you for personal information like bank accounts or credit card numbers.

If someone calls you trying to sell you insurance, scare you about disabling your benefits, or charging you a fee for the new card, then they are a fraudster.

Refunds

Scammers will tell you that changes have entitled you to a refund in order to get your information. Medicare does not call or ask for any information. Medicare will send you a check directly with an explanation of the refund if you are owed any money.

Part D Plan Requirement

Medicare prescription plan, Part D, is not a requirement to have Medicare. Scammers will call you and tell you have to join a Part D plan if you want to keep your Medicare benefits.

Be aware of these scams, and if you are contacted by a scammer claiming to be from Medicare, Social Security, or the IRS, you can report it atwww.ftc.gov.

Identitiy theft can happen to anyone and cause a lot of stress.

Other Scams To Be Aware Of

Some other scams to familiarize yourself with are the different scams on the internet. These can come in the form of an email, an illegitimate website, or on social media. Scammers will send you an email pretending to be your bank or the IRS asking you to update or verify information. Banks and the IRS will never do this, so if you see it, do not respond and make sure to call your bank or the IRS first.

One of the newer tactics used by scammers is social media like Facebook where they will message you with an enticing offer to invest in something. Or a scammer will have made a fake account of one of your current friends, and message you asking for money due to an unfortunate event. If your friend is in need, do not wire them any money before calling them and confirming it is actually them and they are in need of help.

Protect yourself

Be wary of dating website scams, this is common for seniors. A person you might have met on a dating website will talk to you and then over time create a scenario where they need your help financially here and there. Do not fall for these scams, as it is only an attempt to get money from you without any intention of a relationship.

Whenever you log onto the internet, make sure to practice internet safety. Do not take the “bait” from scammers whether through email, FaceBook, dating websites, or sweepstakes promising big winnings. Create a strong password for everything, and do not share it with anyone. Make sure to verify whoever it is you are speaking with over the phone even if they claim to be relative or friends. Contact any company over phone if you received an email or message asking for information, and never provide your information unless you know the website you are on is legitimate. These tips will help you avoid scams and give you a sense of security.

When you turn 65, there are so many new choices when it comes to health insurance. You might feel overwhelmed and unsure about how to pick a plan. Once you turn 65 you are eligible for government Medicare insurance, Medicare supplement plans, and Medicare advantage plans. After enrolling in the government Medicare program, you must decide if a you need a Medicare Advantage plan, or if you should keep the Original Medicare coverage (Parts A and B) and sign up for a Medicare Supplement plan. Both of these plans offer different benefits, so it is important to evaluate both options carefully to effectively meet your medical and financial needs. The things you must consider are:

Deductibles

Monthly premiums

Restrictions on doctors, hospitals, and pharmacies

Prescription drugs that you require regularly

Cost of health care and hospital services you use often

Maximum out of pocket expense you can afford

Medicare Supplement Plan

Medicare will pay 80 percent of Part B and the 20 percent left is up to you to pay out of pocket. Because these out of pocket expenses tend to be overwhelming, many people will enroll in a Medicare Supplement Plan to reduce the costs. These plans do not cover prescription drugs, so you will have to buy a stand-alone Part D plan for drug coverage.

Medicare Supplement plans are private plans that are offered by private companies and cover either most or all of Original Medicare’s out of pocket expenses. When you have a hospital visit, Medicare will pay your claims and automatically forward them to your Medicare Supplement plan, which will pay its portion of the bill.

Medicare Advantage Plan

A Medicare Advantage Plan is also referred to as a Part C plan. With this plan, you continue to pay your Part B premium. These plans come with deductibles and co-pays, and after you pay these, they add up to a certain limit. This limit is an annual out of pocket limit, and the average typically ranges from $3,000 to $4000. Once you have reached the out of pocket limit, the plan will pay 100 percent of your medical bills for the remainder of the year. This is not offered by Original Medicare.

This plan is a government program that is offered by private insurance companies, and unlike a medicare supplement plan it offers prescription drug coverage.

The Difference

There are some pros and cons of each type of plan, and you have to really think about the things that matter to you most when it comes to Medicare coverage.

Costs

Medicare Supplement is more expensive when it comes to a monthly premium payment, but in return you have lower doctor copays and other medical services.

Medicare Advantage has a lower monthly premium, and once you pay off your annual out of pocket expenses (deductible and copays), the company will pay the rest of your medical expenses for the remainder of the year. Your out-of- pocket cost will be less than with Medicare Part A and Part B alone.

Coverage

Traveling

Medicare Supplement plans allow you to go to any doctor in the USA that accepts Medicare. If you travel a lot or live in a different state part of the year, it is best to go with Medicare Supplement.

Medicare Advantage limits you must to doctors in network of your plan and in the coverage area, or you must pay out of pocket for those not in network. You must also choose a primary physician.

Health

A Medicare Supplement plan is best if you have ongoing medical issues. Not only can you sign up with pre-existing conditions, but if you have an ongoing issue with your health and need to see multiple doctors without network restrictions, then a Medicare Supplement plan covers it.

A Medicare Advantage plan is best if you do not see the doctor that much and are okay with a restricted doctor network.

Prescription Drugs

Medicare Supplement plans do not provide any prescription drug plan; you would have to purchase a stand-alone Part D plan.

Medicare Advantage plans usually include a prescription drugs plan.

Some differences between Medicare Supplement and Medicare Advantage coverage.

It is important to note that you cannot have both. Medicare Supplement plans do not work with Medicare Advantage plans, they are only meant for Original Medicare. This means that you cannot use your Medicare Supplement plan to take care of the copayments, premiums, or deductible for your Medicare Advantage plan.

When signing up for a Medicare Supplement plan, you have a 30 day trial period where you can decide to keep the plan, change to another plan, or cancel the plan and receive a refund. You can cancel at any time after the 30 day period, but will not receive a refund. You can switch from a Medicare Supplement policy to Medicare Advantage during the annual Medicare Open Enrollment period from October 15 through December 7. During this period you may also switch from Medicare Advantage to original Medicare.

If you want more guidance or information, our agents at EZ.Insure can help walk you through your options. We will help find a plan within your budget, help you figure out how much coverage you need, and sign you up when you are ready. Contact an us at Replies@ez.insure or call 855-220-1144to connect with one of us. Or to receive an instant quote, enter your zip code in the bar above. It is just that easy.

When it is time to consider Medicare, usually around the time you turn 65 years old, it would be wise to take a look at different Medicare Advantage plans. Medicare Advantage plans, also known as Medicare Part C, usually offer more benefits than Original Medicare for a lower cost. About one-third of Medicare beneficiaries have chosen to go with a Medicare Advantage plan, and it is projected to be almost 34% more in the upcoming years. The reason for this estimated rise and popularity is due to how many benefits you get at such a low cost, some costing nothing.

How Medicare Advantage Works

Medicare Advantage plans are offered by private insurance companies that are approved by Medicare. MA plans include both Medicare Part A and Part B. When you enroll, you continue to pay your Part B premiums, and you have a separate monthly premium for having the Medicare Advantage plan (Part C plan). The Part C plan offers the same benefits offered by Original Medicare along with medically necessary procedures, prescription drug coverage and other benefits like vision and dental.

You must have Medicare Parts A and B to join an MA plan. You must also live in the plan’s service area, and you must not have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

Different Medicare Advantage plans:

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

Preferred Provider Organization (PPO)

Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS)

Special Needs Plans (SNPs)

HMO Point-Of-Service (HMOPOS)

Medical Savings Account (MSA)

How Cheap Medicare Advantage Costs

If you worked for at least 10 years and paid Medicare taxes, then your Part A premiums are free, if not you will pay a monthly premium. The standard Part B monthly premiums for 2018 is $134, but may be higher depending on your income. For a Medicare Advantage plan (Part C), you pay very little to nothing. Around 81% of Medicare enrollees have the option of a $0 premium plan. If you do end up paying $0, you may be responsible for paying higher cost sharing such as copyas, coinsurance, or deductibles (which is determinant on the plan you choose).

The average Medicare Advantage plan premium in 2018 will be around $30, and can range anywhere from $0 to $200 a month. An example of how affordable these plans are, are the estimated monthly premiums of different Advantage plans in 2017. HMO monthly rate was around $28, the Regional PPO plan was $41, and the Local PPO was around $55.

All Medicare Advantage plans include a yearly Maximum Out-of-Pocket amount. This amount is the maximum you will pay out of pocket for covered services within a year. When this limit is met, your plan will cover 100% of the costs for the rest of the year.

Need Help?

Medicare’s Open Enrollment is October 15-December 7 every year, which is when you can enroll into a Medicare Advantage plan. EZ.Insure will answer any questions you might have regarding the different plans, and guide you through the process. Start saving on Medicare costs by paying little to nothing on a Medicare Advantage plan. Our agents are trained and knowledgeable on the plans in your area. To start saving, contact an agent by entering your zip code in the bar above, email replies@ez.insure, and call855-220-1144. What’s even better, is you get all this help from our agents free of charge. Our goal is to help you save and provide you with the best customer service possible.

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older. When you enroll in Medicare, it is important to understand how it works and whether or not you will need a Medicare Supplement plan to go with it. Once you pay your deductible, Medicare covers only 80% of your Part B expenses, leaving you to pay the rest. Medicare Supplement is an insurance plan that is sold by private companies. Medicare Supplements plans help pay for the 20% of the Medicare Part B costs which is left for you to pay. Original Medicare, and Medicare Supplement plans cover different healthcare. It is important to go over each program, and what they offer in order to determine if a Medicare Supplement plan will benefit you.

How Medicare Works:

Every year, you must pay a set amount, a deductible, for your health care before Medicare pays its share. You can sign up for Part A and/or Part B insurance, but most people have both. You pay a monthly premium for Part B. Medicare only covers 80 percent of Part B services, leaving you with the other 20 percent to be paid out of pocket. Depending on your medical needs in a given year, that 20 percent gap can become a large financial burden.

For 2017, the Medicare Part A deductible is $1,316 a year, while Medicare Part B’s yearly deductible is $183. Once you have paid your deductible in health bills such as physician visits, outpatient hospital services, and covered medical equipment, then Medicare will pay cover the rest up to 80% for Part B, and 100% for Part A.

What Medicare covers

Medicare benefits are divided into two parts, Part A and Part B.

Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) — covers inpatient hospital care, skilled nursing facility care, short-term nursing home care, hospice care, and some home health care. (100% of your costs for up to 60 days in a hospital or up to 20 days in a skilled nursing facility.)

Health care you get while traveling outside of the United States (Very limited exceptions)

Hearing aids, and most hearing exams

Long-term nursing home care for more than 100 days

Acupuncture, naturopathy, etc.

Most eyeglasses

Most dental care

Prescription drugs are not covered under Parts A and B, but it will cover some drugs in certain cases like immunosuppressive drugs for transplant patients, and oral anti-cancer drugs. For prescription drug coverage, you should consider signing up for stand-alone Medicare Part D plan.

How Medicare Supplement Works:

There is a monthly premium for your Medicare supplement plan, and in return, the plan pays most of your expenses not covered by Medicare parts A & B. For example, if you have a $4,000 ambulance bill and have already met the yearly Medicare Part B deductible, Medicare Part B will pay 80% of the bill. This leaves you to pay the 20% that us left, $800, out of pocket. But if you have a Medicare Supplement plan that covers Part B copayments and coinsurance costs, then it will pay the $800 remaining.

The Medicare Supplement Open Enrollment period is the six-month period that starts on first day of the month that you are 65 and enrolled in Medicare Part B. During the open enrollment period, you can enroll in any Medicare Supplement plan offered in your service area with guaranteed issue. This means that insurance companies are not allowed to deny you or charge you more due to pre-existing conditions. There are many different types of Medicare Supplement plans to choose from, and they vary in levels of coverage and cost.

What Medicare Supplement covers

In general, all Medicare Supplement plans cover at least part of:

Medicare Part A and Part B deductibles

Skilled nursing facility costs after you run out of Medicare-covered days

Medicare Part A coinsurance and hospital costs (up to an additional 365 days after Medicare benefits are used)

Medicare Part B coinsurance or copayment

Part B excess charges

Part A hospice care coinsurance or copayment

Blood (first 3 pints)

Some will cover:

Foreign travel emergency (up to plan limits)

Part B deductible

Two Medicare Supplement plans (Plan K and L) include an out-of-pocket limit. Once you have reached a certain amount spent on Medicare-covered services, the Medicare Supplement plan will cover 100% of the costs for the rest of the year.

What Medicare Supplement does not cover

Medicare Supplement policies generally do not cover:

Long-term care (care in a nursing home)

Routine vision or dental care,

Hearing aids

Eyeglasses

Private-duty nursing.

Prescription drugs

Looking for more details or help?

There are roughly 10 different types of medicare supplement plans on the market, and they all vary in coverage and cost. Figuring out which plans are best for you can be hard, but we are here to help. If you would like to gather more information on Medicare and Medicare Supplement plans, one or our highly trained agents are ready to help. You can start by simply entering your zip code in the bar above to get a quote, or you can contact us by email at Replies@Ez.Insure or call 855-220-1144. There is no hassle and no obligation. We will help you answer any questions, go over all of your plan options, find the Medicare Supplement plan most suited for your needs and budget, and even help you sign up if you’re ready. No hassle necessary! We work on your time and do not hound you with calls like the other guys.

There are specific times of the year when you can enroll, disenroll, or switch from a Medicare Advantage Plan, also called Part C or MA Plans. These plans are sold by private insurance companies that are approved by Medicare. If you miss these enrollment periods, it may be hard to make changes to your coverage, or enroll in a new plan.

Initial Coverage Election Period(ICEP)

The Initial Coverage Election Period is when you are first eligible to enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan. For most people eligibility begins when they turn 65. You are allowed to enroll anytime over a 7 month period. This 7 month period starts 3 months before you turn 65 and ends 3 months after your birthday month. This means if your 65th birthday is in May you have the ability to sign up from February through August.

The initial enrollment period is when you are eligible for Part A and Part B. If you delay enrolling in Part B, then your ICEP for Medicare Advantage will not take place until you enroll.

To be eligible you must:

Have Medicare Part A and Part B

Permanently reside in the service area of the Medicare Advantage plan

Not have End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)

If you missed or did not utilize the ICEP, you can still join a Medicare Advantage plan during two other periods:

Annual Enrollment Period (AEP)

The Annual Enrollment Period occurs every year from October 15 through December 7, with coverage beginning January 1. This period is also referred to as the Fall Open Enrollment. During this period, people who are eligible can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan. You can also switch plans and add, drop or change prescription drug coverage during the AEP.

Special Enrollment Period (SEP)

A Special Enrollment Period is a period when beneficiaries can enroll, or make changes to their Medicare Advantage plan outside of regular enrollment periods. If you qualify and get granted an SEP, your coverage will start the first of the month after you sign up. Certain situations are required to be eligible for a SEP, such as:

Moving out of your plan’s service area

Having full Medicaid coverage and Medicare

Qualifying for a low-income subsidy program

Tricked or misled into joining a plan

Living in a nursing home, rehab hospital, or skilled nursing facility

Enrolled in a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program, or lose SPAP eligibility

Joining a Medicare Advantage plan during your initial enrollment period when you turned 65. The first year is considered a trial period, so you can change to Original Medicare at any time within the 12 months.

Receiving Extra Help to pay for your prescription drugs

In order to enroll in a Special Enrollment Period, you must apply and provide the necessary proof regarding the qualifying situation.

5-Star SEP

During the 5-star special election period, you can switch to a 5-star Medicare Advantage Plan from December 8 through November 30. The plan will go into effect beginning December 1. It is important to know that you can only use this SEP once per calendar year. After receiving your application, you will begin coverage the first day of the following month. To be eligible, you have to have Medicare Part A and B, and live in the service area.

What you can do during this period is:

Drop Original Medicare and enroll in a 5-star Medicare Advantage plan.

Switch from any Medicare Advantage plan to a 5-star Medicare Advantage plan.

Switch from a 5-star Medicare Advantage plan to a different 5-star Medicare Advantage plan.

Medicare star ratings are updated every fall on Medicare.gov.

Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period (MADP)

Another different kind of enrollment period is the Medicare Advantage Disenrollment Period. This period occurs from January 1, to February 14 every year. This is when you can drop your current Medicare Advantage plan and switch to Original Medicare with or without adding a stand-alone Medicare drug plan (Part D). You cannot enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, or switch to another Medicare Advantage Plan during this period, only drop a MA plan.

Shopping around will help you save money while finding a plan that best suits your needs. Research has shown that people with Medicare Advantage Plans could lower their costs just by shopping plans every year. EZ.Insure can help you shop around and compare different Medicare Advantage plans in your area. You can speak to one of our agent’s one on one without any hassle or obligation. To get started, just call 855-220-1144, email at replies@ez.insure, or simply put your zip code in the bar below to get quotes. The process of choosing a plan or signing up should not be difficult, make easy for you.

The GOP tax bill that the Republicans have been working on, can lead to major cuts in Medicare funding and spending in 2018. The bill is estimated to cut $25 billion from Medicare starting 2018, and resulting in $400 billion over the next ten years.

The Congressional Office has estimated a $1.5 trillion deficit to over the next 10 years due to the tax bill.

In 2010, Washington passed a “pay as you go” rule which requires any new laws to be deficit neutral. Basically if there is not enough economic growth to balance the money lost, then the Office of Management and Budget has to cut spending. Unfortunately, it is likely that one of the spending cuts will be to Medicare.

The tax bill is expected to pass, and while it does not exactly say that it will cut spending on Medicare, it will be an unintended result. Some Republicans stated that the cuts would affect doctors, health providers, and hospitals, not Medicare beneficiaries. They have also had talks to try and change the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67.

House Speaker Paul Ryan seems to threaten cuts to Medicare saying “we’re going to have to get back next year at entitlement reform, which is how you tackle the debt and the deficit. I think the President is understanding choice and competition works everywhere, especially in Medicare.”

A major issue with the possible cuts is that Medicare beneficiaries could end up being kicked off of their current Medicare plan, or receive fewer benefits.

Juliette Cubanski, associate director of the Program on Medicare Policy at the Kaiser Family Foundation says,“these cuts could be one bad side effect of this tax legislation. Many providers may be able to absorb the payment reductions if they have a very diverse patient base. But others who rely primarily on Medicare may find this cut really difficult to deal with.”

Roughly 54 million Americans currently receive Medicare benefits. Many fear the cuts will leave many Americans without coverage or unattainable expense to have coverage. However, McCarthy claims lawmakers will find a way to avoid the Medicare tax cuts. The tax bill is expected to be voted on in early January, when we will begin to see the effects of the bill.